NBA Player News

In what was a ragged basketball game, Dončić and the Lakers did enough to escape Phoenix with the win. While the point guard recorded solid points and assist numbers, he was inefficient. In addition to shooting 28 percent from the field, Dončić was responsible for six of the Lakers’ 21 turnovers. However, fantasy managers are well aware of how rostering Dončić can harm the turnover category. The Lakers play two games in Week 9, starting with the Jazz on Thursday.

Hauser left Monday’s loss to the Pistons with a left ankle sprain in the first half. The 28-year-old small forward was listed as probable for Friday’s game against the Heat so it’s no surprise that he’s ultimately available. Luckily for Hauser, the injury wasn’t serious.

Robinson was limited to 13 minutes in Thursday’s overtime defeat, as he limped off the court less than a minute into the third quarter after suffering an apparent left knee injury. While he did not shoot the ball well in Dallas, scoring two points on 1-of-7 shooting, Robinson’s perimeter shooting ability has been an essential factor in the Pistons’ 21-6 start. Caris LeVert replaced him at the time of the injury; he and Jaden Ivey are the players most likely to be asked to pick up the slack if Robinson misses time.

Murray has been a consistent provider of blocked shots this season, averaging a career-best 1.9 per game. But he’s kicked things up a notch recently, recording 11 blocks over the last three games. While his scoring opportunities aren’t as plentiful as some would like them to be, the Kings forward has found other ways in which to provide reliable fantasy value. Murray is closing in on top-25 value in nine-cat formats, and he’s ranked just outside the top-50 in eight-cat.

Westbrook finished Thursday’s defeat with his tenth double-double of the season. And to the surprise of many, he’s turned into a player who can once again be relied on in 12-team leagues. Westbrook is providing top-75 value in eight-cat formats, well ahead of his Yahoo! ADP (139). Of course, the ADP was heavily influenced by Westbrook not agreeing to a deal until after the preseason, as many fantasy drafts were already in the books. He’s rostered in 63 percent of Yahoo! leagues, and that number should continue to increase.

DeRozan had one of his best games of the season on Thursday, including a 3-of-4 effort from beyond the arc. The three-point shot remains a minimal part of his offensive repertoire, but the veteran wing has been proficient when he’s taken those shots. DeRozan is shooting over 40 percent from three on just over two attempts per game, with the percentage being the highest of his NBA career. DeRozan isn’t going to be a player who provides consistent value in that category, but he’s been far from a liability. Add that to his other tools, and he’s capable of threatening top-50 status before the season ends.

While Raynaud has not been a top-100 player over the past two weeks, Thursday’s performance will raise eyebrows among fantasy managers. Not only did the rookie center record his second double-double, but he also established new highs in points and rebounds. All that was missing from Raynaud’s stat line was a blocked shot, but he’s totaled only nine in 19 appearances. With Domantas Sabonis and Drew Eubanks out, Raynaud should be rostered in more than 15 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

One game removed from dropping 35 points on the Warriors, Grant had another good night on Thursday. He’s scored at least 20 points in four of his last five games, and the forward’s nine rebounds were a nice bonus for those who have him rostered. Rostered in 43 percent of Yahoo! leagues, Grant has been a top-50 player in nine-cat formats over the past two weeks. Given that production, now would be a good time to roll the dice on Grant, especially with the Trail Blazers facing the Kings again on Saturday.

Clingan, who entered Thursday shooting 79.5 percent from the foul line, struggled mightily at the charity stripe against the Kings. Making well below 50 percent of his attempts, the 7-foot-2 center missed three of four attempts in the final 33 seconds of overtime. That opened the door for the Kings to potentially steal the game, but Deni Avdija’s free throws with 1.5 seconds remaining were the difference. Clingan was productive across the board, and his foul shooting throughout the season is why fantasy managers should not be too concerned about what they saw on Thursday.

Sharpe was rolling in the first half, scoring 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field. Unfortunately for him and those who have the Trail Blazers guard rostered, he cooled down considerably after halftime. Sharpe was just 3-of-13 from the field in the second half, so what could have been an outstanding night was merely a good one. Over the past two weeks, Sharpe has been close to a top-50 player in eight-cat formats, pushing his season-long value into the top-100.

Portland blew significant leads late in regulation and overtime, but Avdija came to the rescue to help the Blazers avoid a terrible loss. His two free throws with 1.5 seconds remaining in overtime gave Portland the 134-133 victory, and the wing finished with his eighth 30-point game of the season. While turnovers, of which he had five, remain an issue for Avdija, the overall production has been elite. And he’s doing this while being asked to serve as the primary playmaker as Portland awaits the return of Jrue Holiday. With the new All-Star Game format, it would be unsurprising if Avdija made his way to southern California in mid-February.